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Refuge Association Launches 5th Annual Refuge Photo Contest |
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Monday, 16 August 2010 20:13 |
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Washington, DC- The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) announces its 5th annual digital photo contest showcasing America's national wildlife refuges. Entries for the 2010 Refuge Photo Contest can be submitted until September 24, 2010 with results to be announced in October 2010 in connection with Refuge Week.
"Images of wildlife and wild landscapes tell the remarkable story of our national wildlife refuges," said Evan Hirsche, president of NWRA. "Amateur and professional photographers alike are capturing amazing images throughout the System, and we invite these photographers to share their work and showcase the natural beauty of our wildlife refuges with a broader audience."
Comprised of more than 550 refuges in all states and territories, the National Wildlife Refuge System protects over 150 million acres of lands and water, and is the premier system of public lands incorporated to protect wildlife in the world.
Images submitted for the photo contest can be of birds, mammals, insects, fish, other animals, plants, people, or simply shots of refuge scenery.
This year Southwest Airlines, the official airline of NWRA, has generously donated $2,000 cash and 2 round trip tickets for the first place prize. Other prizes include offerings from Wild Bird Centers of America, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and HaberVision, with winning image hosting services graciously provided by Zenfolio.
In addition, winners' images will be highlighted on NWRA's website and future publications. Runners up will be selected for inclusion in the NWRA Refuge Image Library and every photographer submitting an entry will receive a complimentary one-year membership in the National Wildlife Refuge Association. Winning images from previous contests can be viewed online at http://nwra.zenfolio.com.
For photo contest details, requirements, and procedures, please visit http://www.refugeassociation.org/contest/ContestHome.html and to download a printable 2010 Refuge Photo Contest flyer click here.
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America’s wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity. | | |
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Boat Tours of Pool 8 Habitat Restoration Project |
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Thursday, 12 August 2010 21:00 |
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Public boat tours of the Upper Miss Refuge island restoration project in the lower reach of Navigation Pool 8 will be offered again this summer. The two tours will take place on Monday evening, August 30, 2010. Tours will depart from Wildcat Park at 4:30 and 6:15 and return to the park about 80 minutes later. Participants will ride in pontoon boats, flat-bottom boats, and a cruise boat from Mississippi Explorer Cruises. Wildcat Park is located about ½-mile south of Brownsville, MN.
The tours are free, but registration is required. To register you must email Paula Ogden-Muse at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call (608) 783-8403 and provide the following information: your name, phone number, preferred departure time, and the number of people in your party.
The two tours will accommodate a total of 150 people. Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources, and Mississippi River Wild will conduct the tours and provide information about this important fish and wildlife habitat restoration project.
This habitat restoration project, known as the "Pool 8 Islands, Phase III Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Project", consists of construction and/or protection of twenty-six islands. Construction began in 2006 and is tentatively scheduled for completion in 2012. To-date, eight earthen islands, five seed islands, three breakwater islands, and the off-shore rock mound have been completed with six additional islands currently in various stages of completion. Three additional islands will be built in 2011.
Project funding is being provided through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Environmental Management Program (EMP). Project planning and design have been a cooperative effort between the St. Paul District Corps of Engineers; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Geological Survey; the Wisconsin, and Minnesota Departments of Natural Resources; the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; and the public.
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Another Successfull Annual Cleanup |
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Sunday, 11 July 2010 14:18 |
Another great day for our annual River Cleanup. We filled a 20 yard dumpster with lots of trash, over 30 plastic barrels and even salvaged and cut up an 18 foot fiberglass boat that had been abandoned several years ago and had floated down on one of the backwater islands. Special thanks to CARP and Mississippi River Wild for recruiting volunteers and to the great cooperation from the La Crosse District Refuge office and the Corps of Engineers for providing boats and operators.
Tip of the Hat to the following Cleanup volunteers:
Ken Haefs 
John Plitzuweit
Pete Allen
Gary Beardmore
Cathy Beardmore
Al Brinkman
Chuck Chihak
Laura Chihak
Regina Chihak
Sasha Chihak
VinceJohn Goldwater
Jeff Gross
Bob Hanson
Kevin Hayes
Joe Hayes
Bob Hill
Pat Hill
Phil Moen 
Derrick Nelson
Paul Nelson
Russ Peterson
Jim Rozovics
Richard Thomas
Ken Visger
Terry Visger
Jean Coldwater
from the Corps: Ray and Seth
from USFWS: Ben, Calvin, Jess, Paula
Thanks to Jake at Wild Cat landing & Billy for bringing down the Ambulance
Thanks for all you do for the Upper Miss. |
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Construction Started for the Refuge’s La Crosse District |
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Sunday, 11 July 2010 14:10 |
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Excavation and soil moving for the La Crosse District’s new office/visitor center and maintenance facility began this week.
The site, located on Brice Prairie in the Town of Onalaska, will serve as the gateway to the La Crosse District of the Upper Miss Refuge. The nearly 12,000 square foot building will include an exhibit space, small video theater, wildlife observation room, multi-purpose room, staff offices, and storage. Accessible trails and observation areas will provide additional exploration opportunities.
Construction is expected to take 12 months.
The agency will restore the surrounding 175 acres to sand prairie in several phases, as construction progresses.
The project’s general contractor is Arrowhead Contracting, Inc. from Lenexa, Kansas. The facility will showcase examples of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Funding is provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
For safety reasons, the area is closed to public entry.
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/UpperMississippiRiver or contact the La Crosse District Office at 608/783-8405, or stop-in the office at 555 Lester Avenue, Onalaska, WI. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is the most visited refuge in the United States. The refuge extends 261 miles along the Upper Mississippi River from Wabasha, MN to Rock Island, IL, protecting and preserving habitat for migratory birds, fish, and a variety of other wildlife. This 240,000 acre refuge was established in 1924.
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Heron Rookery and Bald Eagle Nest Counts. |
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Monday, 31 May 2010 11:58 |
Greetings!
May and June bring about times of renewal as many babies are being born and raised in the river valley (and of course elsewhere)! It is at this time that working on a refuge is a pleasure in that seeing many young faces is something that must be done. Heron and Bald Eagle productions counts are sneaking up on the calendar already.
What:
Production counts of Herons, Egrets and, Cormorants at La Crosse's Smith Slough Rookery. This requires taking a short boat ride out to one of the many islands on the river and walking around looking up for nests. Once a nest is spotted, then the challenge of finding the best view to count the young starts. Multiple eyes at different angles helps as sometimes it is only a short glimpse that allows one to get a count of young. We need to get a minimum of about 70 Great Blue Heron nests tallied, last year we had around 666 nests of Herons alone.
Date:
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Time:
Meet at the office at 8:30, or at the FWS I-90 landing at 9:00
This is an all day event, for once we boat out we don't come back in till it is done or end of the day.
Other:
The terrain is uneven, can be wet, and there is plenty of stinging nettle out there - but the view above is rewarding.
If you have trouble with your neck, this is not for you. By the end of the day, my head tends to have a backwards lean to it trying to look up so much.
We have various hip boots or waders if you would like to borrow. Hip-boots are great, there may be some standing water, and they help guard against stinging nettle.
Longsleeves and pants are highly recommended (bugs and nettle).
Baseball cap is beneficial against any falling debris. Herons and the such defend their nest by dropping items from above, such as fish and urine.
Make sure to bring lunch and plenty of water (but no tuna....trust me!).
If you have a favorite pair of binoculars, bring them. We have pairs here to use as well.
Cameras for pictures are always a must - you never know what you will come across.
The thing to remember is that the experience of walking through a rookery is one of it's own. It may even give you a completely different view on herons, they are more than just the wading birds on the edge of a wetland.
Please let me know if you are interested by noon on Wednesday, 2 June 2010 by either phone or email.
Thanks,
Jess
Jessica Larson
Wildlife Biologist
U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Upper Mississippi River NW&FR
LaCrosse District
555 Lester Avenue
Onalaska, WI 54650
608-783-8406 (office)
608-780-8306 (cell)
608-783-8452 (fax) |
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